July 17, 2012

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of July 16

by Kevin Goldstein

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Marc Krauss, OF/1B, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 2-for-6, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB, K, CS.

He's 24 years old and athletically his best position is first base, but Krauss continues to put up some of the best numbers in the minors that nobody seems to be noticing. Now at .297/.424/.533, he's a walk machine with 65 free passes against just 317 at-bats, and he has plenty of power, with 45 of his 94 hits going for extra bases. He's a bit of a three true outcomes type, but there's value here.

Others Of Note:

• Matt Adams, 1B, Cardinals (Triple-A Memphis): 3-for-4, 2B, HR (14), 3 R, 2 RBI, BB. All he can do is keep raking while waiting for another chance; .362/.390/.684 in 46 games.
• Eric Arce, OF, Blue Jays (Rookie-level Bluefield): 2-for-3, 2 HR (3), 2 R, 7 RBI, BB, K. Last year's GCL home run champ is off to slow start; .226/.372/.452 in 20 games.
• Oswaldo Arcia, OF, Twins (Double-A New Britain): 2-for-4, HR (3), 2 R, 3 RBI, BB; 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, K. Easily the best Twins prospect at the upper levels; .323/.379/.516 in 24 games since promotion.
• Chris Bostick, 2B/SS, Athletics (Short-season Vermont): 2-for-3, 3B, R, RBI, BB. Intriguing sleeper is a compact athlete with tools; 9-for-18 in last five games and .316/.382/.459 in 25 games overall.
• Corey Brown, OF, Nationals (Triple-A Syracuse): 3-for-4, 2B, BB. Teams might have some interest in him as he's producing and there's no room for him in Washington; .296/.383/.552 in 89 games.
• Nick Castellanos, RF/3B, Tigers (Double-A Erie): 2-for-4, HR (5), R, 2 RBI, K, CS. Has played exclusively in right field for the past week; .301/.315/.478 in 33 games.
• D.J. Davis, OF, Blue Jays (Rookie-level GCL Blue Jays): 2-for-5, HR (3), R, 2 RBI, 3 K. First-round pick has homered in back-to-back games; .244/.319/.378 in 20 games.
• Delino DeShields, 2B, Astros (Low-A Lexington): 3-for-3, 2B, 3 R, RBI, BB. Hitting .368/.478/.600 in 24 games since All-Star break; .293/.399/.428 overall.
• Neftali Feliz, RHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 4 K. 40 pitches, 25 strikes in rehab outing.
• Jose Fernandez, RHP, Marlins (High-A Jupiter): 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K. Best start for 2011 first-round pick since promotion, 15 IP, 13 H, 4 BB, 17 K in Florida State League.
• Brian Goodwin, OF, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 2-for-4, 2B, R. Super toolsy outfielder has been outstanding in every aspect of the game; .322/.438/.531 in 57 games.
• Adeiny Hechavarria, SS, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 3-for-5, 3B, 2 R, RBI, K. Has the plus-plus defender done enough to put fellow Cuban Yunel Escobar on the trading block? .318/.366/.449 in 86 games.
• Max Kepler, OF, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethon): 1-for-3, HR (1), R, 4 RBI. Don't look now but he might be figuring some stuff out; .298/.454/.440 in 23 games.
• Francisco Lindor, SS, Indians (Low-A Lake County): 1-for-2, 2B, R, 4 BB. Has suddenly turned into a low-average walk machine with 29 walks and just 31 hits in last 35 games; .266/.361/.384 overall.
• Jake Marisnick, OF, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 2-for-5, HR (1), 2 R, 2 RBI, K; 2-for-3. Three straight multi-hit games after slow start in Eastern League; .262/.311/.405 in 11 games.
• Starling Marte, OF, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 3-for-4, 3B (13), HR (11), 2 R, 3 RBI. It's confusing as to why he's still in the minors; 1081 OPS in 13 July games and .291/.353/.510 overall.
• Austin Nola, SS, Marlins (Low-A Greensboro): 3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI. Fifth-round pick isn't toolsy but can play the position and makes contact; .348/.423/.522 in 12 games.
• Renato Nunez, 3B, Athletics (Rookie-level AZL Athletics): 2-for-5, 2B, HR (2), R, 3 RBI. 18-year-old Venezuelan has impressive hit tool; .415/.500/.805 in 11 games.
• Kyle Parker, OF, Rockies (High-A Modesto): 3-for-5, K. Has raised batting average 21 points in three days with 11-for-14 run; .312/.418/.489 overall, but a surprising lack of power.
• Jurickson Profar, SS, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 2-for-3, HR (11), 2 R, RBI, BB. 19-year-old who could put up a 20/20 season at Double-A; .298/.376/.494 and scout's power projections have moved up during the year.
• Luigi Rodriguez, OF, Indians (Low-A Lake County): 3-for-5, HR (8), 2 R, 3 RBI. Seven hits in last two games with a pir of home runs; .282/.350/.424 overall and just 19 with plenty of tools.
• Tony Sanchez, C, Pirates (Triple-A Indianopolis): 2-for-4, HR (5), R, 2 RBI. Five home runs in last 11 games after miserable start to Triple-A stint; .248/.307/.448 in 29 games.
• Miguel Sano, 3B, Twins (Low-A Beloit): 1-for-3, HR (19), 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, K. Recovering from ugly June with 1114 OPS in 11 July games; .248/.370/.508 overall.
• Jonathan Schoop, 2B/SS, Orioles (Double-A Bowie): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (11), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K. Five home runs in last ten games, up to .252/.309/.405 and suddenly the subject of many trade rumors.
• Jean Segura, SS, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 3-for-3, 2 R, RBI, SB (32). Coming on strong over the last two months and up to .290/.341/.397 overall; could be a trade chip for Angels due to middle infield blockage.
• Travis Snider, OF, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI, K. Teams could be inquiring on him as a change of scenery guy; .322/.415/.548 in 53 games.
• Will Swanner, C, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 2-for-5, HR (12), R, RBI, K, CS. Keeps on hitting but has thrown out just 12 of 103 attempted base stealers; .338/.420/.599 in 62 games.
• Tim Wheeler, OF, Rockies (Triple-A Colorado Springs): 3-for-6, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI. How weird is it that after finishing second in the minors last year with 33 home runs, he has just one this year while playing in Colorado Springs? .296/.364/.381 in 47 games.
• Kyle Zimmer, RHP, Royals (Rookie-level AZL Royals): 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K. Fifth overall pick has whiffed eight of 18 batters faces; will be sent somewhere more challenging soon.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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